In this life we have our ups, we have our downs. We have our TGIFs and our holy mother of what on earth just happeneds. One thing’s for sure. Some days are better than others. And it takes bravery, chutzpah and some good old fashioned deep breaths (and maybe a beer) to power through. We each have our own coping techniques, and many of us are lucky enough to thank yoga for being our guide through some tough times.
For Priscilla Warner, her anxiety and panic attacks were so intense she sought everything under the sun to help calm the storm. In her book Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life she outlines her journey and shares what finally stuck. Hint: it’s a practice.
Read the review and interview with Priscilla here.
WIN: We’re delighted to be giving away a copy of Learning to Breathe: My Yearlong Quest to Bring Calm to My Life by Priscilla Warner, courtesy of Free Press. Update: Good news! The giveaway is extended til Friday and we have 2 additional books to give away!
TO ENTER: Hi Haiku! How we’ve missed you. In the comments below share an experience, a yoga pose, a sutra, a special mantra, a special person, a special microbrew, your guilty pleasure TV show, your favorite yogi teabag quote, anything that helps bring you back to a state of all is ok with the world so you can face it again, in haiku form of course. That’s 3 lines, and goes 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.
We’ll try first:
setu bandha still
slow exhale, let it all go
friday, IPA.
Giveaway open until 11:59pm Wednesday, May 16th EXTENDED to Friday, May 17th! One THREE winners will be chosen at random and announced soon after. Good luck!
UPDATE: We have winners! Congrats to Amber, Stuart and Kimberly!
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Earlier…
- ‘Learning to Breathe’ Book Review + Interview with Priscilla Warner on Finding Relief from Anxiety
- Yoga for Depression and Anxiety – Interview with Amy Weintraub
- Study Finds Teen Yoga is Positively Awesome, Can Improve Health
- YogaDork Ed: Abdominal Breathing – Your Immediate “How To” for Stress Relief
- Watch This Man’s Crazy Inspiring Transformation After DDP Yoga (video)
- Posture Matters: Stand Up For Yourself!
I needed this now
Need to teach more yoga stat
Love you YogaDork
west maui mountains
window of expansive view
from my quite bedroom.
Iyengar? Yes, please.
Plus Size Yogi in training.
Bend, breathe, namaste.
Thinking of winning.
Be funny? Props to YD?
Maybe just random.
no past loss/future fear
all joy resides here & now
savasana helps
I’m learning to breathe
In the quiet of my mind
Or maybe my heart
Haiku to win book
*Learning to Breathe* so I can
Write better haiku
Inhale the life force
Exhale letting go; release
Repeat. Om Shanti
Breathe in happiness
Hold it in your fourth chakra
Breathe out a new world
Every time on the mat
Is another chance; life
breathes & beacons us
Calm to quiet mind
Monkey brain at 3 a.m.
How to cope and dream again
Got a new kitten
He likes to yoga with me
Furry yoga bliss
Many books I do own
breath daily I must go slow
win to top of pile
You no like Bikram
Why you no try, take a dive
Big puddle of sweat
Need to feed my soul
Embrace my fears and sorrows
One breath at a time
Today I start new
One breath at a time in out
Each breath fills my heart
Body like a mountain
Breath like the wind
Mind like the sky
Wow, Yoga Dork!
Last night I dreamt of a book
wise, bestowing breath!
Why is “I don’t know”
Not an answer for us?
Are we not mortal?
Why is “I don’t know”
Not a good answer for us?
Are we not mortal?
mantra for my soul
breathing deeply I inhale
and go on my way
early afternoon
tea steeps in its brown vessel
sitting quietly
My Meditation…
peace breathe in breathe out
NOISE DISTRACTION FUTURE THOUGHTS
breathe in breathe out peace
I stand on my head,
defy my personal fear.
I know no limits.
It is what it is
Sunday, newspaper, Malbec wine
Breathe in, let it go
My mat is my core.
The center of all movement.
To, from, and within.
its hillbilly yoga
putting your head in your butt
reintarnation
Great mountain ahead
now looming inner discord
when will i find peace?
Moment after om…
Particle of a second.
Calm beyond belief!
Can Canadians
Who need inspiration,win?
Please please say we can
happy go lucky
sidewalk cracks will break my back
leap now fearlessly
Pigeon pose? Yes, please.
No, never regret Yin Yoga
Cold blueberry beer
Move to uncover truth
Sarvangasana steadies
Always there, so hum.
Class brings happiness
Amongst friends we calmly flow
Finding peace and calm
in out thoughts they go
deep breath tough to let one out
return to the mat
Beneath the veil; Truth
Sever the ignorant doubt
no mud, no Lotus
It is always there
Love my harbor view from home
Breathe and take it in
I have read this book
It is full of awesomeness
I want to share it!
Holding each moment
A stillness forms the backdrop
from which all is born.
Sit, shake, wag tail, beg
Long day, too tired no excuse
Now go get my leash
Breathing my body
Letting life be my practice
I sway in the wind
Awesome haiku! I love it! This really resonates with me. Good luck! Keep Haiku-ing! Sincerely, Paige Pellegrino-Teti
Pine scent in the air
Now close eyes, breathe in, breathe out
Here is paradise
Sitting in the grass
Each blade brings a new feeling
And profound moments.
Real Housewives Bravo Junk
Bad Day Junk food for my Brain
Yoga grounds me otherwise
park yoga pigeon
poops mandalas on my mat
waiting for some rain
Yoga is my love
Breath, beauty, friendships, peace
Unroll with my mat
Loving late at night
With the most wonderful man
The rest of my life
Stand in Tadasana
Feel solid like a mountain
Breathe in to the now
inhale the calmness /
exhale negativity /
this is the real you
Just for fun since the contest is over:
asanas relax
pranayama enlightens
samadhi achieved
Thank you YogaDork
These haikus bring me much joy
With each breath I take!